August 18 Thought for the day...the need for intimacy

Whether we acknowledge it or not we all have a need for intimacy. We need to make connections with people that are real. We need to have people in our lives that we can be truly honest with and not be afraid of their response to us. We have made that word dirty, but it is the greatest form of love. Finding someone who knows all about you, you can share anything with, and they still love you! We all crave that, and the Lord wants that with us too!

"But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." Matthew 6:6

When you first read this verse it is a "yeah, yeah, I get it God wants us to pray alone!" While that is a very simple reading of it, that is true. It means so much more!

When Jesus says, in this translation, "go into your room," He is talking about going into a place where you can have a completely intimate conversation. A place and time where you won't get distracted. A secret place and time for just the two of you. Now that's a little different than the English translation!

Jesus is talking about a secret place where intimate conversations can take place that is just between you and the Lord. It is out of these intimate times that relationship is deepened, unity is developed, so you really know how the Lord "thinks and feels" and you know He understands the same about you. What a great and deep relationship, it is exactly what Jesus is asking us to do.

Out of this relationship, it is easy to know what the Lord is looking for from you and for you to understand more your own heart, drive and passions. He sees them, you know them, and as you walk it out together because of your intimacy, the reward is great, you are doing everything you were called and designed to do.

Such unity comes from this intimacy that nothing can stop you. Try it today. We make time for everything else, try it for a week. Get alone with the Lord, spend time with Him, let your heart beat be known to Him and listen to His. It will change your world!